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Agree with remarks, but some questions

Reader comment on item: Erdoğan's Turkey Is Not Coming Back

Submitted by Stuart Fagin (United States), Apr 21, 2020 at 00:22

Pipes' central conclusion, that Turkey will be anti-American for the foreseeable future is surely correct. It conforms to the principle that the most enduring governments in the post-WWII world are anti-western autocracies, of any stripe. Consider the endurance of varied anti-western autocracies such as Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, and Cuba. (The USSR is the single anomaly of an anti-western autocracy imploding. However, its demise was attributable to unique conditions). Anti-western autocracies can only be overturned by external armed forces, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is why the Venezuelan Maduro dictatorship will persist unless militarily challenged.

In contrast, western-aligned autocracies are the least stable form of government. Consider the fate of Mubarak, and particularly Gaddafi whose demise corresponded with his flipping allegiance.

So, while Pipes' central conclusion must be correct, it raises several questions:

1. Why is Turkey successful in swaying public opinion against the US, while in Iran the opposite seems to be true. Will the Turks have to spend a couple of more decades marinating in anti-westernism before they turn?

2. Is there significant anti-Russian feeling in Turkey, remnant of the historic antagonisms? If so, could this foster pro-western sentiment among Turks?

3. Are there any members of NATO who currently recognize the full turn of Turkey to Islamism?

4, Has any member voiced support for Turkish ouster?

5. Will the Turkish threat of using the immigration weapon serve to prevent European support for ouster?

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Daniel Pipes replies:

  1. "Khomeini was Islamism 1.0, Erdoğan is 2.0, maybe even 3.0."
  2. More fear of Russia than antagonism to it. Yes, it could help bring the West back.
  3. The Greeks and Cypriots.
  4. Not publicly.
  5. Perhaps.

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Reader comments (9) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
US Influences Notwithstanding - Turkey's Destiny Foretold. [415 words]M ToveyMay 25, 2020 22:34259040
But look who helped Turkey [423 words]TaronMay 7, 2020 16:25258856
Coronavirus in Turkish hospitals! [169 words]dhimmi no moreApr 21, 2020 15:14258708
Overdue Ouster [177 words]Michael Hanni MorcosApr 21, 2020 02:48258701
Agree with remarks, but some questions [238 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Stuart FaginApr 21, 2020 00:22258699
It's the wolf [7 words]Francis WeberApr 20, 2020 21:26258697
1Incirlik [29 words]Michael CavalloApr 20, 2020 21:19258696
1Change your priorities [71 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Dr. Peter WatsonApr 20, 2020 20:57258695
Yes, but the issue must be popularized to succeed [180 words]DaveApr 20, 2020 20:37258694

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